Apparatus for burning hydrocarbon oils



(No Model.)

J. S. HULL. APPARATUS FOR BURNING HYDROUARBON OILS. 110.411.1013. Patented Sept. 17, 1889.

N. PETERS vmwumc n hu. Walhington. n. 04

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN S. HULL, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 411,103, dated September 17, 1889. Application filed Tune 13, 1888. Serial No. 276,951. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN S. HULL, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city of Baltimore, in the State of Maryland, have invented an Improved Burner and Combined Apparatus for Burning Hydrocarbon Oils and Fluids; and I do hereby declare that the fol lowing is a full and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making part of this specification.

The purpose of my invention is to produce a burner and devices and apparatus in connection therewith whereby a powerful heating-flame maybe produced without the previous vaporization of the hydrocarbon fluid by heat, either at the burner or before reaching the burner, so that the burner may be lighted immediately, and a vaporization or partial vaporization of the fluid by heat may be effected at any time for increasing the efficiency of the burner.

Another result effected by my invention consists in the complete and exact regulation of the flame produced by the burner in the relative proportions of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen used, so as to be luminous or nonluminous, and the heating power of the same varied, according to the uses of the burner.

The invention will be herein after described, and particularly pointed out in the claim.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a side view of the entire apparatus embodying my invention; Fig. 2, a central longitudinal section of the atomizer used with the burner-tube, and Fig. 3 a vertical section of an automatic fluid-pressure regulator.

' Many of the parts of the entire apparatus have been used in other allied inventions, and described in previous Letters Patent granted to me, and I shall set them forth only briefly or refer to previous patents in which they have been described. Thus the tank or reservoir A, which contains the hydrocarbon fluid under pneumatic pressure, the additional reservoir B, for containing an additional supply of compressed air, and the condensing air-pump O, by which the air is compressed in the reservoirs A and B, have been repeatedly described, and, being now in extensive public use, are well known to those skilled in the art.

In the apparatus here shown the pipe D leads from the air-pump to the air-reservoir B and the air-pipe E from the reservoir B to the fluid-tank A. From the lower part of the fluid-tank A a pipe F leads to the atomizer, and a pipe G leads from the air-reservoir B to the atomizer; also, a pipe II leads from any steam-supplying source (not indicated in the drawings) to the atomizer, ordinarily enterin g the same through a single discharge-tube a, with which both the air-pipe and steampipe are connected.

In addition to or instead of the air-reservoir for furnishing air to the burner under pressure I employ or may employ any kind of mechanical or operative air-pump which will furnish air with a constant pressure. I show in Fig. 1 a revolving-bellows air-pump I, such as is sometimes used to supply air to carburetors, and produces a sufficiently uniform pressure of air. I show it connected by a pipe J with the main air-supply pipe G. I wish it to be understood thatI show this particular kind of air-pump as representing generally all kinds of mechanical operating air-pumps, including hydraulic devices for the purpose, as distinguished from simple passive pneumatic pressure, and to indicate that I do not confine myself in this invention to any particular means of furnishing air under pressure.

In order to equalize the pressure of air supplied from the pneumatic pressure-reservoirB, the pressure in which is continually varying, I apply to some part of the, supply pipe G a pressure-regulator K for the air to pass through-sueh, for instance, as is described in my Letters Patent No. 186,677, January 30, 187 7but if at any time the regulator is not required a shunt-pipe G may be connected with the main pipe to out out the regulator, as shown. Out-off valves 1) c are applied to these pipes to control the passage of air in this relation; or the air may be conducted to the atomizer by a branch pipe E, which connects the two reservoirs with the steam-pipe H, and controlled by a cutoff valve d. r v

The pipe J of the air-pump I is provided with a cut-off valve 6 to let on or cut off the air from the pump at will. By means of two other cut-oit valves f g also-one in the airpipe G and the other in the stea1n-pipe H- either air or steam may be admitted to the atomizer, as desired.

The atomizer is constructed substantially as follows, reference being especially had to the section of the same shown in Fig. 2. The hydrocarbon-fluid pipe F conducts into a discharge-chamber L, which is provided with a conical nozzle h, through which the fluid is discharged, and with a (preferably) needlepointed valve i, such as has been repeatedly described in previous patents, and is now in common use. The (IT or steam is also conducted from the air or steam pipe a into equalizing-chamber N, and from it through a connecting tube or passage j into a dischargechamber M, which is also provided with a conical nozzle 7.". and with a (preferably) needlepointed valve Z. The chamber N constitutes an equalizing-chamber, in which the fluid from the reservoir or the steam-chamber expands and flows from it to the fluid-chamber M in a steady stream, avoiding any puffs, spurts, or pulsations due to variations in pressure in the sources of supply. By means of the two valves i and Zboth the absolute flow of the fluid and air or steam may be regulated and also the relative proportion of each may be regulated and adjusted to great exactness, so as to produce any kind of flame desired, luminous or heating. As the hydrocarbon fluid is discharged from the nozzle h the air or steam discharged with force from the nozzle k strikes the discharge-fluid and instantly atomizes it, dividing it into minute spray, which is thoroughly commingled with the air or steam, and in proper proportion to produce combustion and such a flame as required. The air or steam also directs and carries the atomized fluid commingled with it directly into and through the retort or burner tube Q. This commingled fluid, air, or steam may be lighted instantly with a match, like a gas-jet, so that no time or trouble is expended in heating the burner to produce initial vaporization. Both the nozzles h and 7c. are screwed upon their respective chambers L M, as shown, or otherwise axially adjustable thereon, so that their points may be ad justed to the proper relative positions best adapted to atomizing the liquid carbon. Also, the air or steam chamber M is adjustable vertically in its supportingtuhe j by screwing therein, as shown or otherwise, to adjust the height of its nozzle in relation to the nozzle of the liquid-carbon chamber, and thus render the entire adj ustmcnt complete.

I also combine with the hydrocarbon-liquiddischarge chamber L an air or steam equalizing chamber N, which entirely or partially sun rounds the liquid-chamber. Into this chamher the steam-pipe (L leads, and ordinarily I construct the atomizer so that the steam to support combustion first passes into and through this steam-chamber before it passes to the discharge-chamber M, as shown in Fig. 2. The steam admitted into this chamber N heats the hydrocarbon liquid before it passes to the discharge-nozzle, whereby it is more quickly and completely sprayed, or even partially vaporized when it is discharged. I find that this steam heating of the hydrocarbon liquid enhances the heating and illuminating power of the hydrocarbon liquid by producing a quicker or more complete combustion, and therefore contributes to economy in the consumption of the same. To this end, therefore, I prefer generally to use air for atomizing the hydrocarbon liquid, only at first starting the burner, or until steam is raised, if it is generated from the burner itself, and then to cut off the air and use steam for atomizin g.

I show in dotted lines in Fig. 1 also a steamchamber 0, inside of the tank A, such as de scribed in my Letters Patent No. 241,219,for the purpose of vaporizing the hydrocarbon liquid in the tank and furnishing a supply of hydrocarbon vapor to be used at the burner instead of the liquid, in some cases, as when there may be any disarrangement of liquid, steam, or air furnishing devices to the atomizer. This steam-chamber may be supplied with steam from the steam-pipe II through a branch pipe P, controlled by a cut-off valvem.

The retort or burner Q, used in connection with the atomizer, is or may be simply a tube flaring somewhat at the end next to the atomizer, and so situated in relation thereto to allow the commingled hydrocarbon-liquid spray and air or steam to be driven directly through it. This burner may be supported on a simple stand R and adjusted vertically by means of a downward screw-threaded projection n, screwing into the top of the stand, so that by turning the burner around adj ustment may be effected. The burner-tube may be supported in any other known and suitable way. The nozzle part 0 of the burner may be a separate part screwed into the coupling q. The tube may also have air-admitting holes 1) p in its sides to further promote the combustion of the hydrocarbon.

I claim as my invention- An atomizer composed of a hydrocarbonliquid-discharge pipe within a fluid-pressureequalizing chamber and having a nozzle thereon, a fluid-discharge pipe having a nozzle contiguous and at an angle to the liquid discharge nozzle for atomizing the liquid, a retort, tube, or burner into which the atomized liquid is directed and burned, a tank or reservoir for holdingliquid under pressure, a steam-chamber within said tank, an equalizing-chamber, and pipes for supplying the fluid-discharge pipe and equalizing-chamber with steam from the chamber in the tank, substantially as described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN S. HULL.

\Vitnesses:

J. S. BROWN, 13. GALLAND. 

